how to distinguish number and text

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1

Hi Guys,

I have a problem now for WM 4.0.

I need to handle a bunch of attributes, with different values inside, could be number or text. For number I need to format it and for text I just leave it as it is.

Currently I do it by search “.” in the values, but the problem is some of the values could be “aaaaaaa 5.0” or “bbb111.b”, this will cause exception in numberformat function.

So I am lost, is there any functions which can distinguish number and text?

2

You can use PSUtilities.string:isNumeric service to determine if your input is text or number.

3

I am afraid in 4.0 there is no this function…:frowning:

4

You can write your own java/wM service, its pretty simple.

Flow service
Do a math operation with the input, if an exception occurs input is string else its numeric.

Write Java Code as below

IDataCursor pipelineCursor = pipeline.getCursor();
pipelineCursor.first( “input” );
String input = (String)pipelineCursor.getValue();

String isNumeric = “true”;

try
{
float fNumber = Double.valueOf(input).floatValue();
}
catch (Exception e)
{
isNumeric = “false”;
}
finally
{
pipelineCursor.insertAfter(“isNumeric”, isNumeric);
pipelineCursor.destroy();
}

5

Thanks Sreedhar

6

Dear Sreedhar,
For the above code we are getting a strange output for any number which ends with ’ f ’ , its saying True .Does this takes as numeric/float in webMethods code ?
Eg: if we give input as 456f the output we are getting is True which should not be!

Please can anyone help me in this ?

Thanks,
Ashok.

7

Yes, the f is considered a part of the floating point literal by Java. (Java is not “webMethods code.”) You’ll find that F, f, D, and d are also interpreted as part of the number. [URL=“Java SE Specifications”]Java SE Specifications

If you need to evaluate a string to detect non-numeric characters more restrictively, you can use a variety of techniques. A search of the web for “java isnumeric” will turn up some interesting information you may be able to leverage.